46. Isabella
46
ISABELLA
“Y ou have no idea how much I needed this,” Liana says, the exhaustion prominent in her voice while Lux, she, and I get seated at our table in the restaurant. “Getting this bridal line prepared has proven to be a lot more than I anticipated.”
“You deserve a night off. I know it’s been a lot, especially with the boutique and all of the customs you’re doing,” I say.
“Not to mention the men’s line I’m trying to work in for next fall,” she mutters.
I let out a sad laugh, because holy hell, I don’t know how Liana is surviving at this point. It’s no wonder she hasn’t been around much.
“Is there anything I can help you with, Liana?” Lux asks. “I’m obviously not a fashionista like the two of you,” she says, looking down at the black sweater and jeans she’s wearing, “but I’ve worked in the customer service industry my entire life. I can help out at the boutique like Izzy or something.”
“Lux, your outfit is cute as fuck. Do not put yourself down like that,” I reprimand.
“I literally look like a child next to you both.”
I glance down at my emerald-green jumpsuit with a wraparound tie at the waist before moving my gaze over to Liana who’s wearing an oversized ivory sweater tucked into her brown leather pencil skirt.
“Well, I literally don’t see a difference between the three of us.”
Lux isn’t into fashion like Liana and me, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have good style. She actually has great taste. Her sweater is fitted and tucked into her high-waisted jeans, and her thigh-high boots are absolutely killer.
She scoffs out a laugh. “Yeah, okay. I guess it’s gotten a tad better since I moved here and now have a reason to dress cute these days.” She brings her attention back to Liana’s. “But really, I’m more than happy to help out in any way I can. Not working makes me feel empty at times. I tried having Teo put me to work at Fierce since I have bartending experience, but he was not having that. Just tell me what to do, Liana, and I’ll do it.”
“Honestly, I’ll take all the help I can get at this point,” Liana says to Lux before looking at me. “Maybe you can train Lux in the boutique, and she can help out there. That’ll free up your time to help more with the bridal line.”
My eyes light up at Liana’s words, and I sit up taller in my seat. “I’d love that,” I say, the excitement in my voice causing a smile to form on Liana’s face.
“It’s mostly working with the manufacturer right now since the designs are complete, but with the sample gowns coming in next week, I could really use your eye for fashion to make sure we’re happy with them. That’ll give me some time to work on my men’s collection.”
“My eye for fashion?” I say to Liana, who looks at me like I’m an idiot.
“Of course, your eye for fashion. Duh. I’ve told you this before. You have a great attention to detail. Plus, you’ve already helped me design one of the dresses. It’s just as much your design as it is mine at this point.” Liana pauses for a moment, eyes widening as if something just occurred to her. “Oh my gosh.”
“What?” I ask, sneaking a glance at Lux who has a furrow in her brow, looking just as confused as I do.
“Why didn’t I think about this before?” Liana says.
“You’re making me nervous. What’re you talking about?” I say.
“You. You and I. Why don’t you officially come and work with me?”
I roll my eyes. “Liana, don’t be ridiculous. I might know fashion, but there is way more to running a fashion empire than just knowing what looks good.”
“Oh, don’t put yourself down like that,” Lux says, turning the tables on me and using my own words against me. “I one thousand percent agree with Liana.”
With Lux at her side, Liana nods with excitement.
“You’ve been working with her a lot lately, and she not only needs the help, but she wants the help.” Lux continues. “It makes total sense. You two partnering up would be amazing.”
I can’t say I haven’t been thinking about a career in fashion ever since Nicco brought it up. It’s not something I considered before, but lately, it’s all I’ve been able to think about. And now with Liana’s offer? This is becoming so surreal.
“Just think about it, okay?” Liana says. “If it’s something you want to do, I would love to team up with you for my bridal collection. I know it’s your favorite, and I really think we could make it the future of the bridal industry.”
Liana and Lux beam at me. “I promise I’ll think about it,” I say to Liana, and even though I haven’t told her my decision, something tells me deep down inside, the decision has already been made.
Our server comes over to take our order, and once he leaves, I excuse myself to go to the bathroom.
I wash my hands and pat a random flyaway strand of hair down when the door of the bathroom opens and closes. I glance at the newcomer in the mirror and gasp in surprise.
“Well, isn’t this déjà vu,” I say, turning around to face Nicco locking the bathroom door. He turns around and leans against it with his arms folded across his chest, staring at me like a piece of meat he’s been dying to have a taste of.
“You seem to like stalking me into women’s bathrooms,” I add while sauntering toward him. “Anything you care to share, Nicco?”
My playful tone has him chuckling, then kicking off the bathroom door and closing the distance between us. “You know I couldn’t go another day without seeing you,” he says, wrapping his arms around my waist.
I run my hands up the arms of his smooth leather bike jacket until they’re wrapped around his neck. “I’ve missed you too,” I say, and he kisses me.
He groans into me before lifting me up. As if my body is on autopilot, I wrap my legs around him. His hands fall to my ass and squeeze so hard I’m surprised he didn’t tear a hole in the seam of my jumpsuit.
“Why are you wearing this monstrosity?” he grumbles.
Giggling, I say, “I rather like this monstrosity . It makes my ass look good.”
“Your ass always looks fucking good, and you know it. But how the hell am I supposed to take you on this counter when you’re wearing this one-piece pants thing.”
I nearly moan a response because damn , I want Nicco so fucking bad right now. This tension has been building between us, and I need a release soon.
“I seem to remember you like getting off in restaurant bathrooms,” he says. His cocky tone has me rolling my eyes, but I still let out a laugh.
“I can’t say you’re wrong there, but we were nearly caught last time.”
“That was the most exciting part,” he mutters while moving his lips to mine.
Our mouths touch, and the electricity between us is immediate. A surge of energy coils its way around our bodies, immersing us both in the moment. It doesn’t matter where we are or what’s going on, when his lips are on mine, moving in sync with my own, it’s like nothing else matters. It’s like nothing else even exists.
I run my hands through the soft strands of his hair. “I need to see you later,” he says, his lips never leaving mine.
Pulling back, I say, “Maybe I can spend the night at Liana’s tonight.” I give Nicco a knowing look. “After all, she’s very overwhelmed with how much work she has to do. I may have to spend the next few days helping her catch up on everything.”
A smirk pulls at Nicco’s lips. “Aren’t you such a good friend?”
I tighten my grip in his thick hair, causing him to angle his head back as the strands pull. “I’m a very good friend. But want to know what I’m even better at?” My eyes draw down to his lips, and I can’t help but lick mine.
Giving my ass another squeeze, he says, “Enlighten me.”
I lean down, bringing my lips so close to his ear that they caress it as I say, “Knowing exactly how you like my lips wrapped around your cock.”
Nicco groans and pulls me impossibly closer while thrusting his hips into me at the same time. I feel his hardened length through our layers of clothes, and it makes me wet on the spot.
“Tonight, Isabella. Your ass better be in my bed tonight, because I’m done waiting. I’m going to make you prove those words to me, and then after that, I’m going to finally take care of you the way I’ve been dreaming of for the past few years. I’m going to make you feel so fucking good you’ll never want to leave my bed.”
Nicco gives me another long, passionate kiss so full of want and need that we both nearly get lost in it, then he sets me back down on the floor and says, “Tonight.”